Foster announces increased broadband for rural areas

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has reinforced her commitment to improving broadband services in rural areas with completion of another project through the competitive £1.9million Northern Ireland Broadband Fund.

The Fund, which is co-financed under the European Regional Development Fund Sustainable Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013, aims to increase the options for delivery of broadband services in rural areas. It offers practical, financial support of up to 50% of overall project costs to organisations undertaking broadband technology trials here.

The Fund supports trials demonstrating technologies that can be used to deliver higher speed, next generation broadband services; and projects which offer solutions for provision of commercial services in priority rural areas in Northern Ireland.

Commenting on the completion of an extension to the fixed wireless network operated by a local SME, North West Electronics, and the imminent launch of commercial broadband services at locations across the North Antrim Coast, Arlene Foster said: “This is very welcome news and is further evidence of the commitment that my Department has made to getting high quality broadband services into the most rural locations of Northern Ireland.

“North West Electronics has already completed two projects supported under the Broadband Fund, and is already delivering valued broadband services across the rural West, North Sperrins and the Foyle Basin. And now, with the completion of this part of the network, the company intends to deliver broadband services into areas prioritised by my Department across the North Antrim Coast including Ballintoy, Straid, Port Bradden, Dunseverick, Mosside, Lagavara and Maghercashel.”

The Minister also welcomed news that North West Electronics is to provide higher speed broadband services in rural areas.

She added: “The company has recently contracted with Hibernia Atlantic to purchase bandwidth on the Project Kelvin network. Using the support provided by my Department under the Broadband Fund, the company has also installed a number of higher speed broadband links on this part of its network.

“As a consequence, it can now offer higher specification services and has decided to increase its base service from 2Mbps to 5Mbps at no additional cost to customers. Access to next generation broadband services is now a reality for some of the most rural parts of Northern Ireland.

“Our key objective is to continue to encourage the emergence of affordable, high speed broadband services in such areas, providing conditions for the growth of local enterprises. This is a significant step in that direction.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Broadband Fund was launched on 7 August 2008.
2. Access to the Fund is competitive, with applications scored by an evaluation panel. The Department maintains a strictly “technology neutral” approach, primarily seeking provision of a service as opposed to a particular technical solution.
3. For media enquiries, please contact DETI Press Office on 028 9052 9297. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.